Nathan’s Blog

The experience was very soothing. It felt good to stroke in circular motions. Having a partner made this activity a lot more fun than being alone so I’m glad you instructed us to do it this way. I did it with my little sister, who has been my quarantining buddy for the past two weeks. This activity gave us something fun to do.

My results were more or less scribbles but I felt proud of them. So proud in fact, that I felt the need to put my signature on it. One thing that stood out to me was the number 2. I noticed unknowingly drew a two towards the middle left.

Our art was the monument that stands on the grass on lower campus and the buildings surrounding it. I thought the shape resembled pac man so I came up with a backstory for our art. The monument on the lawn is pac man after he ate the ghost that chases him. He was originally yellow but he turned black because of turning over to the “dark side” after eating the ghost. The thing is, pac man didn’t know the ghost was cursed. He now sits on that slope forever frozen with his mouth open hungry for more.

My art will still be art with the rectangle gone because the way pac man sits on that patch of grass is attention grabbing. There isn’t really anything within a twenty feet radius so the frame isn’t too necessary.

Art doesn’t reside in just the body of the object. We know which objects are art and which aren’t based off of our own intuition. I could label something as art while you look at it as another everyday object. In my picture, the surrounding environment feeds into the image of the main component, pacman. 

Art can definitely be something other than an object. My favorite example would be a sunset. Pink skies are one of the most beautiful things to look at.

I believe art does reside in the experience of the viewer. It can take all emotions into account as well. If the piece made you feel happy or depressed, I believe it should be categorized as art.

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• What was the experience like?

The experience was very soothing and satisfying. It felt good running my fingers across the paper.

• Was it easier, harder, or different than you expected?

It was actually easier than I expected. I kind of overthought everything before I got started.

• How was the experience of making a painting with no subject? Confusing & Frustrating? Liberating & Inspiring?

The experience of making a painting with no subject was actually the most fun. It wasn’t      confusing or frustrating because there were no rules!

• How does this compare to other paintings you have seen?

It is pretty simple compared to other paintings I have seen but that doesn’t make it any less worthy to be called art.

1. How did you feel performing Maintenance Art in the area around the USU?

I felt pleasant while performing Maintenance Art in the area. It felt good to put in a group effort for that project.

2. How are Mierle Laderman Ukeles cleaning the steps of an art museum and Richard Serra flinging molten lead against the walls of an art museum different? How are they the same? Are one or both “art”? Are one or both “not art”?

Mierle Laderman Ukeles cleaning the steps of an art museum and Richard Serra flinging molten lead against the walls of an art museum are different because Mierle was cleaning the steps while Serra didn’t clean a thing. Although, they are both art in their own sense.

3. Was Mierle Laderman Ukeles’ Maintenance Art performance at the Wadsworth Atheneum “art”? Did the fact that her performance was at an Art Museum make it art? What if instead, she had simply gotten hired as a janitor at a factory somewhere and performed that job for 6 months? Would that have been art? What makes an act “art” or “not art”?

Mierle Laderman Ukeles’ Maintenance Art performance at the Wadsworth Atheneum is “art”. Even if she was a janitor and performed that job for six months, if she believed that it is art, then it is art. The person who creates the piece deems it art or not.

4. Is an object or an action Art or Not Art because of some intrinsic property of the medium? Or because of the intention of the person performing it? Are all paintings on canvas art because paintings on canvas are exhibited in art museums? Is all house painting not art because we don’t exhibit painted houses in art museums? Can a painting on canvas ever be not art? Can painting a house ever be art?

I believe art is subjective to the artist. What one person may deem as art can be deemed as a simple task by another person.

5. Has Mierle Laderman Ukeles, or Jennifer Lopez, made you think differently about “Women’s Work”? Is “Women’s Work” ever art? If yes, when? If no, why not?

Mierle Laderman Ukeles and Jennifer Lopez haven’t really changed my idea of Women’s Work, reason for this being me participating in all of these activities while growing up. I never really considered it womens work because my mom would make me do it too.

6. In class we discussed the woman who cleaned Donald Trump’s Star on Hollywood Blvd. Whose Star would you get down on your hands and knees to clean?

I would get down on my hands and knees to clean Kobe Bryant’s star because I have the utmost respect for him.